Mechanical racing toy



March 6, 1928. `l,66l,865.

` C. ZABEL f MEGHANICL RACING TOY Filed June 29, 1925 '5a 5 M W 'BY w? z.: ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlca CHARLES ZABEL, OF CORAOPOLIS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T MCDOWELL MA NU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF MILLVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A` CORPORATION 'OF PENNSYVANIA. i

Application filed Inne 29, 1925. Serial No. 40,145. i

This invention is for an improvement in mechanical toys of the type in which one or more objects are propelled by gravity around a gyrating track in simulation of a race.

i The invention' relates to toys of the general type disclosed in my co-pending application for patent Serial No. 665,114, filed September 27, 1923.

In toys of this type, a gyratory motion is impartedto a suitable pan having one or more continuous tracks thereon. As the pan gyrates, gravity propelled objects, guided by the tracks, are caused to travel thereabout continuously in one direction. VVhere there are two or more tracks, the appearance of a race is simulated and an extremely attractive and fascination toy is provided.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a novel and simple mechanism for tilting the pan to give it the proper gyratory motion.

The invention which may be varied in various ways, may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which three forms are shown. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an assembled to 3lfigure 2 is a transverse section through one form of the toy.

Figure 3 is a similar view of a modified form. I w

Figure 4 is a plan view of a form of cross frame employed in the constructions of Figs. 2 and 3 and to which the pan is secured.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fiig. 3 showin still another modification.

Efigure 6 is a detail view of the form of eccentric. roller shown in Fig. 5.

In the drawings, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 5 designates a base member of suitable form on which is a housing 6, preferably of a cylindrical sheet metal construction,` and having a suitable top 7. Secured to the top, or otherwise suitably 'mounted in the housing is a driving device, preferably in the form of a spring motor 8, of any (lesired construction. This motor drives a gearwheel or disk 9 on which is carried a suitable revolving eccentric element, this element in Fig. 2 being shown as a partial cone 10 with its lower edge angularly truncated that one portion of the cene pron jects below the remainder thereof. A windin'g stem 8a for the motor may project through the top of the housing.

Below this `revolving cone is a cross member 11 having a central disk portion llajin the center of which is a conical socket'llb and on which are diametrically opposed arms 11 having track or pan supportlng terminals 11fi. j A pin12 on the base projects into the central socket 11b to provide a bearing for of a universal rocking motion. The arms 11c project through openings 6a in the housing 6. 1

ecured to the outer end 111 of the arms is an annular track 13, preferably formed of Va dishedV ring ofv sheet metal having a plurality' of annular ribs 18=L thereon to divide the track member into a concentric series of annular tracks. Suitable gravity propelled objects A may be provided to roll in the tracks. i i j Upon operation of the motor 8 the eccentrio or conical element 10 with its eccentric projection bearing against the cross bar structure 11 of the track, imparts a gyra-tory or successive rockmg motion to the'track,

whereby the objects A' are caused to travel continuously thereabout with the rocking of the track. i j

In the construction shown in Fig the arrangement is generally similar to 'that de- Vscribed in Fig. 2 and corresponding reference numerals designate corresponding parts vof the two structures. The only difference is, that instead of using a Vtruncated cone 10 to rock the pan, an eccentric wiper, such as the roller`10a on an arm 10 secured to wheel 9 is provided; Asthis roller travelsaround,

Vit functions toptilt the pan in a gyratory fashion.

the cross member that will permitl Inasmuch as the cone vof Fig.n 2 has a bearing againstv the cross support at all points, the tilting motion of the pan is conlined andproceeds evenly. To get the same result with the arrangement shown in Fg. 3, it is desirable to provide an annular rib 5'"L on the base 5` so that as the roller revolves,

the enlarged disk portion 11zl Will be depressed against the rib to limit the distance which the cross piece may be depressed.

In the arrangement shown. in Flgs, 5 and 6, the same principle of operation obtains, but the motor is below the central part of the track. In this arrangement, designates the base plate of a suitable support having,r cylindrical walls 16. Monnted on the base or otherwise securcd Within the support, is a driving motor 17, preferably ot' the conventional spring type, as shown. This motor revolves a Wheel 18 on a stationary post 19, and on the Wheel an eccentric element, such as arm 20 with roller Q1 for imparting a gyratory rocking motion to the track E22, the central portion only of which is shown, it being of the general construction shown in Figrs. 1 and Q.

The post 19 projects through a central point of the track, as shown. The track is maintained in a. tilted position by reason of the roller :21 on arm 20, being,` higher than the rim of the housing 1G, the track being` supported at diametrically opposite points by the rolle' and, the rim of the housing 16. As the arm 21 re\''olvc.'-:` a progressive, tiltinzgr motion is thus imparted to the track. A spring 23 on post 19 above the track and held against the track by nut 24; serves to maintain a sutficient pressure on the track to assure satisfactory operation.

A winding stem 25 for the motor. may project through the track and serve also as a means to hold the track against rotation.

lVith any of the above constructions an extremely sin'iple mechanism is provided for imparting' the desired motion to the track, and in all of them the motor winding key is conveniently located so that it is accessible from the top of the toy. In all three forms, the rovolving eccentrie element bearing against a portion of the track structure operates on a cam to tilt the track. Thile I have illustrated several embodimcnts of the invention, it `willV be understood that this is by way of illustration, and that the invention is not contined to the particular constructions shown.

I claim as my invention: Y

1. In a mechanical toy, a supporting housing,a motor located Within the housing, an inclined dishcd plate member having a track rockably mounted on the supporting housing, revolving means spaced from the center of the plate connected with and driven by the motor and cccentrically contaetinj:r with the plate to impart gyratory motion there- 'ravity propelled object on the to, and a track.

2. In a mechanical toy, the combination With a fixed supportingr housine' and a motor thcrein, of an inclined dishcd plate member having a series of tracks thereon rockably mounted on the housing, eccentric revolvingIr means connected with and drivcn by the motor and contactingr 'ith the plate meinbcr for etfectin,r gyratory motion thereof, and a plurality of gravity propclled objects on the said tracks.

In a mechanical toy, aV tixed supportinpr housing, a center post in the hoiisimg'.` a dishcd plate having a plurality ol' tracksl thereon'centrally mounted on the post, a motor in the housing, a.cam element drivcn by the motor in a circle about the post and bearing against a part of the plate for imparting a gyratory moton to the plate, and ;fravity propellcd objects on the tracks of the plate.

4. In a mechanical toy, a snpportimcr housinr, a track structure' comprising a dished plate associated thcrcwith and havingr a support on the housin; r pern'iittin;r a universal 1'ockin, r motion, a cam ecccutritI to the point of support for the track structure and rcvolvable conccntricallj' about the support for the track structure, in contact with a part ot' the track structure, a motor operatirely connected n'ith the cam, and a grarity propelled object on the track.

In a mechanical toy, a motor housingz, a. motor in the housing, an oscillatorj" nonrotatahle supported plate having4 a track thereon, al post, projccting from the houf-"ing engaging the center of the plate, means driven by the motor in a circlc about the post and bearing againstv a part ot' the plate for imparting,r a g'yratory motion to the plate, and a gravity propcllcd object ou the track.

(i. In ay mechanical toy, a motor housing, a motor in the housing, an oscillatm'j`v nonrotatablt` supported plate havingr a track thcreon, a post prjcctin .r from the housingz engaging:` the center of the plate. nu'aus driven by the motor and bcaring against a part of the plate for impartinpr a progressive tiltingr motion to the plate, and a gravitj' propelled object on the track.

In tcstimony Whercof I atiix my signature.

CHARLES ZA BEL.

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